Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his forehead, feeling the onset of a headache. While it wasn't unheard of for the Sand Village to suddenly redirect its attention to Konoha mid-battle, the timing seemed baffling.
After all, it had only been a matter of days since they had made peace with the Grass Village. Now, they were turning around to attack Konoha? Did they perceive Konoha as inferior to the Grass Village, or did they doubt Konoha's ability to defend itself?
Sarutobi never intended to escalate the conflict; his primary goal was to retrieve the Jinchuriki and convey to the Grass Village that Konoha, as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, couldn't be provoked with impunity.
Therefore, swift and decisive action was necessary for Konoha. Continuing the war would only be detrimental and might exacerbate the situation.
But... Why this sudden shift in focus from the Sand Village? Hiruzen knew well the hardships the Sand Village faced after their defeat in the Third Great Ninja War. The Wind Country's Daimyo had severed their financial support, redirecting missions to Konoha and leaving the Sand Village struggling to sustain itself.
To keep the village afloat, the Fourth Kazekage had to devote considerable effort to securing funds. The situation was undoubtedly dire for the Sand Village.
However, these internal challenges were unrelated to Konoha. On the contrary, if the conflict persisted, it could sour relations with the Fire Country's Daimyo.
So, what incentives did the Grass Village offer the Sand Village to prompt this sudden attack on Konoha? What benefits outweighed the risks of provoking a conflict with Konoha, the strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?
As expected, since the onset of this war involving the Grass Village, the dynamics have taken a peculiar turn. Once the Sand Village redirected its focus to Konoha, the Cloud Village, and the Rock Village mysteriously halted their activities, seemingly observing the unfolding events with a sense of amusement directed at Konoha.
This pause might be driven by their apprehension that if the Grass Village and the Rain Village refocus on them, they would need to prepare for a potential counter-attack, avoiding a situation akin to what the Sand Village experienced.
In the present context, the Grass Village, especially with its alliance with the Rain Village, has become a formidable force. Hence, exercising caution is prudent. No one wants to be embroiled in an extended conflict. Another three-year war is something they likely want to avoid, considering the need for recovery and recuperation.
Suddenly, the pressure on Konoha has intensified. The resilience of the Grass Village, even in the absence of its leader, has taken Sarutobi Hiruzen by surprise. Initially, he perceived the Grass Village to be similar to the Rain Village, relying heavily on a single leader. However, the Grass Village has demonstrated its capacity to withstand the onslaught from the Three Great Shinobi Nations, particularly at the border of the Fire Country.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen reviewed the intelligence in his hands, his expression turned increasingly serious. The Grass Village has produced its own exceptional generation, including Nagato Uzumaki, Yahiko, Konan, Daisuke, and Hato. Nagato, in particular, stands out for his strength, mystery, and remarkable sensory abilities, exposing infiltrating shinobi with ease.
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. Had the relationship been better, the younger generation of the Uzumaki clan might have come to Konoha's aid, leveraging their exceptional abilities. However, the once-strong friendship between the Uzumaki clan and Konoha has dwindled into non-existence.
Consequently, Konoha is grappling with immense pressure as they struggle to make headway in the current situation. With the need to allocate resources to address the Sand Village threat, internal discord has emerged within the village. Some question the rationale behind expending significant resources to retrieve the 'monster,' suggesting it might have been preferable if the entity had remained at large.
However, amidst these internal debates, a more pressing concern looms. Sarutobi Hiruzen fears that if the conflict persists, the Rock Village and the Cloud Village might redirect their focus towards attacking Konoha. Instead of uniting against the common adversary, it could devolve into a scenario where the Four Great Shinobi Villages are united against Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rested his folded hands on his chin, observing the furrowed brows of Homura and Koharu beside him. With a somber demeanor, he posed the pressing question, "What's our next move?"
The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air as Homura and Koharu remained silent. The uncertainty loomed large – how does one proceed? The prospect of halting the war entirely seemed unrealistic, yet allowing it to escalate into chaos was equally untenable. They were caught in a delicate balancing act, navigating the fine line between maintaining control and preventing an uncontrollable escalation.
"The Daimyo and many within the village are growing discontented," Koharu reflected, her voice heavy with resignation. "We've just established peace agreements with the Rock and Cloud Villages. If we resume fighting now, Konoha will undoubtedly lose face."
She shook her head, her tone tinged with a hint of dismay. Ninjas are known to break agreements, but not like this. They're not the Grass Village, after all. They can't mimic their morning alliance and afternoon betrayal strategy. Konoha has a certain level of dignity.
Expressing her concern about maintaining the village's dignity, Koharu continued, "While it's true that the Grass Village's unexpected rise has caught us off guard, we cannot stoop to their level."
With a hint of emotion in her sigh, she addressed Hiruzen and Homura, "Considering the current situation, it's evident that continuing the fight against the Grass Village won't yield a quick victory. We don't even know how long this war will persist, and there's the looming uncertainty of the Rock and Cloud Villages joining in. Hence, the wisest course of action would be to cease hostilities. Once we've adequately prepared, we can resume our offensive against the Grass Village."
Koharu's words struck a chord. Continuing the war indefinitely was not an option. However, halting hostilities now carried its own risks – would Konoha be seen as weak, just like the Sand Village? The thought was a bitter pill to swallow for the village hailed as the strongest in the ninja world.
"Can we continue negotiations with the Grass Village?" Homura pondered, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "Although Konoha may not have the resources to continue the conflict, it's possible that the Grass Village is also seeking an end to the hostilities. Perhaps through negotiations, we could even explore the possibility of reclaiming the Nine-Tails for Konoha."
Hiruzen shook his head with a wistful smile. "It's unlikely," he replied with a hint of resignation. "If negotiations were feasible, they would have occurred already."
From the outset, Konoha had attempted diplomatic avenues, only to be met with staunch refusals. Each time, the Grass Village leveled accusations of child mistreatment against Konoha, leaving them at a loss for words. As the three leaders sighed in frustration...
"Hokage-sama!" An ANBU ninja burst into the room, swiftly delivering a letter. Before anyone could react, he handed it over, gasping, "A missive from the Grass Village!"
The Grass Village? The trio exchanged puzzled glances. Why would the Grass Village send a letter amidst the ongoing war? Could it be… surrender?
Hiruzen dismissed the ludicrous idea of a surrender and cautiously took the letter. Homura and Koharu joined him, casting suspicious glances at the envelope as Hiruzen tentatively opened it.
To their surprise, the contents revealed something akin to a red invitation card. Perplexed, they lowered their heads to decipher its meaning.
As they read on, confusion etched their faces, and after exchanging bewildered glances, they were left dumbfounded. The letter conveyed, {For decades, the Grass Village and Konoha have been close allies, their friendship dating back to the founding of the ninja villages. We were like brothers, dear friends, and loved ones. However, today, Konoha has some misunderstandings about the Grass Village and has declared war without cause. Nevertheless, as everyone knows, the Grass Village is a ninja village that especially loves peace.
Therefore, for the sake of peace in the ninja world, the Grass Village sincerely invites Konoha to participate in the First Ninja Art Tournament, where both sides will have a fair fight on stage, three rounds, two wins, and the ultimate winner will be decided.}
The letter continued with details such as a registration fee of 'one hundred million' and whom to contact for inquiries, the Grass Village Foreign Minister, Mubuki, and Minister of Finance, Kakuzu.
Beneath all this information, in bold, golden, flamboyant writing, were the words, {" First Ninja World Tournament - Looking forward to your participation!"}
The trio exchanged puzzled glances, trying to make sense of the unexpected invitation.
…
Meanwhile, Hanzo found himself equally perplexed by Akihiko's actions. He examined the letter in his hand, furrowing his brows in contemplation. After a brief moment, he voiced his uncertainty, "Do you think Konoha will agree to this?"
Akihiko narrowed his eyes, offering a confident nod in response, "They... will have no choice but to agree. If not, we'll join forces with the Sand Village and launch an assault on the Rock Village."
Concerned, Hanzo sought further assurance, "Do you believe the Sand Village will comply?"
Reassuringly, Akihiko dismissed any doubts, waving his hand casually, a smile playing on his lips, "No need to worry, they will comply. And if they don't... well, we'll simply resume our offensive against the Sand Village."
Hanzo was simply left dumbfounded by Akihiko's Words. 'We can even play like this?'